It was a tougher weekend for South Wilts Cricket Club, with the 1st XI coming up against a runaway St Cross side who showed exactly why they sit at the top of the Southern Premier League. The 2nd XI, meanwhile, moved ever closer to securing promotion, while the 3rd XI battled hard to dig out an important victory in testing conditions and keep their promotion hopes alive.

The 4th XI also found themselves up against the in-form league leaders Laverstock and came out on the wrong side, meaning they will need at least one win from their remaining fixtures to ensure safety.

With just three weeks of league cricket remaining, the pressure continues to build for all four senior sides.

1st XI — St Cross 96-0 (22pts) vs South Wilts 93 ao (0pts) — St Cross won by 10 wickets
1st XI Come Up Well Short Against Runaway Leaders

The 1st XI travelled to league leaders St Cross knowing they faced one of their toughest challenges of the season, and the hosts showed exactly why they have established themselves at the top of the Southern Premier League.

Having won the toss and elected to bat, South Wilts struggled to build any momentum, losing James Degg, Harry Broderick and Josh Chippendale cheaply to leave the innings in serious trouble at 12 for 3. Tom Cheater and Ben Draper also departed soon afterwards, leaving South Wilts at 28 for 5.

Archie Fairfax-Ross provided some much-needed resistance with 27, while Tom Grant battled through to an unbeaten 13 at the end of the innings. Ben Jack added 10, but the St Cross attack kept the pressure on throughout.

Byron Langley was the pick of the hosts' attack with 3 for 14, while Hampshire-contracted Dom Kelly and Charlie Gwynn also claimed two and three wickets respectively as South Wilts were bowled out for just 93 in 29 overs.

There was little respite after the break as St Cross' Gregor McKenzie and Hampshire's Felix Organ completed the chase inside 12 overs, with McKenzie unbeaten on 52 and Organ 27 not out.

A difficult afternoon against a side who showed why they are the strongest team in the Southern League by a fair margin, and what we as a club must aspire towards.
There is still much to take from this season, and the 1st XI will now look to respond strongly in their remaining fixtures.

2nd XI — South Wilts 311-5 (24pts) vs Calmore Sports 2nd XI 272 ao (9pts) — South Wilts won by 39 runs
2nd XI Edge Ever Closer to Promotion

The 2nd XI continue to look increasingly like a side destined for promotion, with another excellent performance keeping their push towards County Division 1 firmly on track.
After Tom Pearce won the toss and elected to bat, Liam Vermeulen and Max Cordle once again provided the platform at the top of the order, putting on 90 before Vermeulen departed for a valuable 38.

Cordle continued his remarkable accumulation of runs this season, this time making a superb 79 from 100 balls, while Lawrence Yeo chipped in with an excellent 43.
Skipper Tom Pearce then provided the acceleration with a fine 40 from just 30 balls, before Will Musgrove (31 not out) and Rob Pittman produced some late fireworks.

Pittman was particularly destructive, smashing an unbeaten 42 from just 21 balls, including six fours and two sixes, as South Wilts closed on an imposing 311 for 5 from their 45 overs.
The reply was led by an excellent century from S Moss. After getting an early life when dropped behind, he went on to make 108, but the South Wilts attack kept taking wickets at regular intervals.

George Allom was this week's standout with the ball, producing another excellent spell to claim 5 for 37. Rob Pittman added 2 for 53 and Tom Pearce 2 for 65 as Calmore put up a great fight, but were eventually bowled out for 272 in 43.5 overs.

It got a little closer than we might have expected or hoped for, but South Wilts always looked on top Another 24-point haul keeps the 2nd XI's promotion charge firmly on course. With just three weeks remaining, South Wilts are now tantalisingly close to securing promotion.

3rd XI — South Wilts 152-5 (24pts) vs Michelmersh & Timsbury 1st XI 149 ao (5pts) — South Wilts won by 5 wickets
3rd XI Battle Their Way to Another Important Win

The 3rd XI produced another excellent result, with only one player in the side over the age of 19 — skipper Matt Anderson-Emm.

The young side had to dig deep in challenging conditions with temperatures soaring. Like many sides trying to produce good pitches when it feels more Mumbai than Michelmersh, it was a good effort from both teams to produce a decent game of cricket.

The opposition were bowled out for 149, with George Nash leading the way with 3 for 29 and Charlie Allom again impressing with 3 for just 5 from his two overs. Thomas Barrett added 2 for 28, while Asher Osborn and George Gundill also chipped in with wickets as South Wilts' young attack kept the opposition under control.

The chase was anything but straightforward. Freddie Jones made a rapid 33 from 25 balls before departing to a very low delivery that trapped him right in front, while Ivo Leyland contributed 20.

It was in-form Alex Vincent who provided the crucial innings. With batting proving very tricky and every delivery requiring plenty of watchfulness, Vincent showed tremendous grit and patience, waiting for the loose deliveries and producing a superb 54 from 69 balls to anchor the chase when it mattered.

Jacob Rowe, although occasionally getting frustrated, remained crucially unbeaten on 15, while George Nash added a quick unbeaten 6 as South Wilts reached 152 for 5 in 33.4 overs to secure another valuable victory.

A hard-earned win from a very young side keeps the pressure firmly on second-placed Breamore, with it looking increasingly likely that the promotion battle could come down to the final game of the season when South Wilts visit Breamore.

4th XI — Laverstock 294-8 (22pts) vs South Wilts 184-5 (9pts) — Laverstock won by 110 runs
4th XI Battle Hard Against League Leaders

The 4th XI faced another tough assignment against the in-form league leaders Laverstock, who arrived at the Academy.

Laverstock posted an imposing 294 for 8 from their 40 overs, with Lewis Wakeford — red-carded and suspended from Laverstock Football Club's FA Cup game, meaning he was available for the cricket — producing a superb 104 from just 56 balls.

He was supported by John Shears (39), Dale Gower (35) and stand-in skipper Harry Richardson, who finished unbeaten on a fine 45.

South Wilts' bowlers battled throughout, with Alex Jacob the pick of the attack, taking 4 for 51, while young Danish Nair claimed 2 for 46. Henry Smith and Naimur Rahman also chipped in with wickets.

The chase was always going to be difficult, but the 4th XI refused to make it easy.
Henry Smith made 30, Naimur Rahman contributed 26 and skipper Alex Evans added 29 before Jody Everett produced a determined unbeaten 35.

It was the ageing but still improving spinner Dave Vincent who shone with the ball for Laverstock, taking out both South Wilts openers and finishing with 2 for 38, supported by Dale Gower with 2 for 33.

Chasing more than 300 with such a young side, mixed with some valuable experience, was never really on the cards, but South Wilts offered stubborn resistance before eventually finishing on 184 for 5.

It was a great opportunity for some of our very youngest players to gain senior experience against a top side in Division 5, and there was plenty to take from the afternoon.